National Zoo Prepares Bao Bao for Debut

Bao Bao, the Giant Panda cub, is seen by the media for the first time Jan. 6, 2014 inside her glass enclosure at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., a few days before going on display to the general public. Bao Bao was born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo Aug. 2, 2013. (Photo credit: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — Bao Bao, the giant panda cub at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, is getting used to seeing fans outside her panda house enclosure as she prepares for her public debut this month.

Bao Bao had a tryout Monday in front of the media, and WNEW’s Karen Adams was there. After waking up in her exhibit around 8 a.m., she spent the morning crawling, climbing, following mother Mei Xiang and poking her head over rocks to a chorus of camera clicks.

Listen to Karen’s report:

Bao Bao Debut

For the most part, Bao Bao is oblivious to all the commotion but aware people are around, panda curator Brandie Smith said.

“She’s got a great disposition. She doesn’t even seem to notice the folks who are watching her, her adoring public,” Smith said. “Her focus is mostly on Mom right now.”

Bao Bao will make her public debut Jan. 18 and may be visible inside or outside, depending on the weather and her mother’s choices for any given day. Zoo members will have an early preview beginning Saturday.

By the time she goes on public display, Bao Bao will be nearly 5 months old. She’s still a baby, zookeepers said. She sleeps about half the day and plays while she’s awake, rolling and tumbling on her head, gnawing on bamboo and poking at her mother.

That routine will continue when people are allowed to stream through the panda house. Smith said they won’t make Bao Bao or her mother do anything they don’t want to do. They will bring her out into the enclosure for viewing, conduct some training sessions with her and sometimes weigh her in public view.

“But if the cub chooses to go back into the den, or if mom chooses to take her back into the den, we won’t force her to be out on display,” Smith said.

If Bao Bao is distressed or hungry, she will make a contact call for her mother, Smith said.

In recent months, Bao Bao has become more active, moving around on her own and exploring the environment. Now she’s working on climbing, but some rocks are still too big for her tiny frame.

And Bao Bao has been spending more time in her exhibit area — a good sign for visitors who want a chance to see her.

During a VIP tour of the zoo in December, actor Hugh Jackman was allowed to peek inside the panda house and found Bao Bao in full view. He posted a picture on Instagram.

Bao Bao has turned out to be calm and relaxed, more subdued than older brother Tai Shan, said biologist Laurie Thompson, who has worked with the pandas for years.

“Tai Shan was a little more vocal when we did things like weigh him, where she seems kind of relaxed about it,” she said. “She’s like her dad. Tian Tian is very relaxed and kind of goes with the flow. So I’m thinking she got that from him.”

The 5-month-old cub isn’t quite ready to go outside, so when the Washington region got hit with snow last week, keepers brought snow to her. The zoo Tweeted out a picture of Bao Bao sticking her nose in a large bowl of the white stuff inside her enclosure.

WNEW’s Karen Adams contributed to this report. Follow her and WNEW on Twitter.